[Long term treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Experiences with D-penicillamine in comparison with gold and immunosuppressive drugs (author's transl)].

In a controlled trial including 80 patients suffering from different stages of rheumatoid arthritis it was demonstrated that D-penicillamine therapy favourably influences the clinical course of the disease as compared to a control group treated with antirheumatic drugs. Particularly the therapy continued over one year resulted in a significant fall of the joint and activity index as well as of the BSR. Side effects were observed in more than half of the cases. Renal, hematological and severe exanthematic complications forced to discontinue the administration of D-penicillamine in 6 of 41 cases. As compared to other therapeutics our study indicates that D-penicillamine and gold treatment are equivalent drugs in rheumatoid arthritis whereas immunosuppressive drugs are reserved for severe cases of rheumatoid arthritis because of their strong side effects.